Buddhist relics to be housed in museum

New Delhi: Buddhist relics found during an excavation at Lalitgiri in Orissa will be housed in a museum, the union ministry of culture said Monday.

At present, the relic caskets are in the safe custody of the superintending archaeologist, Bhubaneswar circle, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), a statement issued by the ministry said.

A site has been inspected and a detailed drawing (design) of the proposed museum building is being prepared by the Bhubaneswar circle, ASI.

The excavated Buddhist site at Lalitgiri was notified as centrally protected in 1937.

The site was extensively excavated by the ASI 1985-92. The remains of a massive stupa, including relic caskets consisting four containers made of khondalite, steatite, silver and gold with corporal remains of the Buddha have been recovered during the excavation, besides other important structure and archaeological remains.

The relic caskets containing the bone relics would be housed and displayed for the public under adequate security and surveillance, the statement said.